Cable Tip Mirror Inspection With Magnetic Mounting for Easy Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inspection devices for cable tips face issues with contamination leading to unreliable quality inspections due to dirt and dust accumulation, and the cumbersome process of aligning and cleaning mirrors, which can cause mechanical stress and damage.

Innovation Solution

The inspection device employs magnetically held mirror elements that can be easily removed, cleaned, and reinserted, with adhesive connections to prevent mechanical stress, and a housing design that prevents contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If mirrors are clamped and/or glued to a mirror support, then the mirrors can be held in position, but mechanical stresses arise due to thermal expansion differences and alignment becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemirror position stabilityVSAvoidalignment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical connection system (clamps and adhesive layers) with a magnetic field-based holding system. Magnets mounted on the mirror support hold the mirrors without physical contact or adhesive, eliminating mechanical stresses from thermal expansion differences and simplifying alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If mirrors are screwed to the mirror device, then secure attachment is achieved, but cleaning becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemirror attachment securityVSAvoidcleaning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the screw-based mechanical attachment system with a magnetic holding system. This allows mirrors to be easily removed and reattached without tools, dramatically reducing cleaning time while maintaining secure attachment during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If heavy mirror supports are used, then stable mounting is achieved, but handling and cleaning become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy mechanical mirror supports with lightweight magnetic mounting systems. The magnetic field provides sufficient holding force without requiring massive support structures, making the mirrors easy to handle and clean while maintaining stable mounting during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If overpressure is generated in the housing, then contamination is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidhousing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the mirrors from the sealed housing environment, allowing them to be freely accessible for cleaning. This eliminates the need for complex overpressure housing systems to prevent contamination, as the magnets provide sufficient holding force even when mirrors are removed and cleaned externally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution ensures easy and reliable cleaning of mirrors, prevents mechanical stress, and maintains inspection accuracy by simplifying the handling and alignment of mirrors, while maintaining the device's functionality.

Implementation Method 1

at least some of the mirror elements, in particular all mirror elements, are held in their respective position in the mirror device by magnets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3611497B1Inspection apparatus for inspecting a cable tip of a cable and method for cleaning the mirror of an inspection apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 KOMAX HOLDING
  • EP3611497B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3611497B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3611497B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A testing device (1) for checking a cable tip (23) of a cable (40), in particular a processed cable (40), preferably a cable (40) connected to a crimp contact via a crimp connection, is proposed, wherein the testing device (1) has a mirror device (5) with a central axis (24), wherein the cable tip (23) can be arranged in the mirror device (5) through the cable receiving opening (30) along the central axis (24) for checking the cable tip (23), wherein the mirror device (5) comprises several mirror elements (10, 10') arranged at a predetermined angle to each other and at a predetermined angle to the central axis (24), each comprising a mirror (60-67) for viewing the cable tip (23) arranged along the central axis (24) of the mirror device (5) from different viewing angles.wherein the inspection device (1) further comprises a camera (2) for generating images of the cable tip (23) from different viewing angles by means of the mirrors (60-67), characterized in that at least a part of the mirror elements (10, 10'), in particular all mirror elements (10, 10'), are held in their respective positions in the mirror device (5) by magnets (9, 9', 9", 9'").